I have to say that blaming Henry for an unbelievable piece of bad luck perfectly demonstrates the ridiculous bias against him by some.
Dreadful record for JFH but unsurprising with his negative approach Only 10 mins for Washington. Why not start him and drop Henry? This season's gone so at home especially be positive and go 4-4-2. Henry embarassed himself again. 3 occasions when he got there to make a tackle it was too weak and they come up with the ball. One cost us a goal. 1st half when La Parra roasted him and countered from a corner proved he can't even do the bare minimum of what's expected of him. And no shock we couldn't get hold of the ball today with him there Without Faurlin we can't get hold of the ball so why not get him on even for half hour if he's not fit to start If we can't play with any freedom now with season gone and no pressure then I real fear for the dross we'll have to watch under JFH
J.f.h thinks poltergeist has got the lot and perfect striker..don't see it myself..yet to see decent touch on the deck.
Good interview...glad to have a manager who doesn't seem to be lost in the big picture, but just focuses on the next game. Obviously frustrated we only got a point, but not all gloom and doom.
Why the **** didn't Washington get longer? Polter tries really hard and is scoring goals right now, but really, he isn't very good is he? They should have had a penalty. Smithies looks good (bye bye Green). The ground was so quiet, I'm not sure I've ever heard such an eerie atmosphere during a game that we're not losing. At least we started with an attacking formation and the substitutions were all attacking, although Washington should have been on 10 minutes earlier. Smithies - 8 - Looks very good. and he can kick. A couple of excellent saves. The only thing I'd question is why oh why did he keep on kicking the ball to little Junior Hoilett? Perch - 8 - I'd say that was his best game for us. Onuoha - 8 - Excellent and very solid. Hall - 7 - Continues to impress. A definite hand ball from him and should have been a penalty. Konchesky - 6 - Better than of late, but still not very good. Up against a good player mind you. Fer - 6 - Some nice touches, but just too laid back for this league with an average team around him. Henry - 6 - Worked hard and doesn't deserve so much criticism. I'd rather see Faurlin there. Luongo - 6 - Lots of energy and a decent first half, but he just helps the ball forward far too often, instantly surrendering possession. Hoilett - 6 - Not much impact, but worked hard. Polter - 7 - Scored again and you can't really ask for more. Phillips - 6 - A good ball in for the early goal, but he really is very average. Poor corners too. Subs: Chery - 4 - Missed an absolute sitter!! Washington - 6 - Should have been on earlier. A great first touch and pull back for Chery's golden chance! The jury is still out on JFH.
You can take that argument back to the dawn of time, if X then Y ad infinitum. He didn't win the ball whilst pressing nearer the halfway line than the penalty area. Fer and Phillips offered him no help. There were still at least 4 players plus the keeper between the bloke who won the ball and the goal. But it's all Henry's fault, because he's a catch all scapegoat.
... and I thought that match was coasting to a 4-3 Liverpool win - I see Caulker only came on in the 89th min. Charlie on the bench for Saints at Old Trafford (that injury he had been nursing keeping him out of our line-up healed up pretty quick).
Mmm.............I know I'm going to regret this, but here goes. Firstly, Henry was pressing on his own prior to their jammy goal. To press properly, you need to hunt in packs. No one helped him. The bias on here against Henry is bordering on the bizarre. I'm not convinced about JFH yet either and I agree that I'd want Faurlin to start and that Washington should have been on earlier. However, to suggest that today's line up was negative is just plain wrong. We lined up 4-3-3 with only one holding midfield player in Henry. There were massive holes through the middle today as a result. Luongo, for all his energy, repeatedly gave the ball away by simply hooking it forward. Polter, Phillips and Hoilett interchanged as a front three in a very fluid, progressive formation, which incidentally, should suit Washington perfectly. All the substitutions were positive and attacking, although they should have been made sooner. It's all very frustrating at the moment, but we must give JFH time to get his way of playing into the team. Next season will tell us whether he will be a success or not imo.
Quick! there's a straw grab it! He's on the pitch as a "stopper", absolved from all creative duties. He's directly involved and didn't do his job. Again
in case you haven't noticed we are a very average team on a good day, and Henry is a very limited player but probably about our standard. If your expectation is that he will stop every single ball that he in theory could stop, then I suspect not only will he permanently disappoint you, but Frank Rijkaard, Lothar Matthaus and Dunga would be the subject of criticism too. This relentless focus on one player lets the others off the hook as well - Fer and Phillips today especially. Henry looks exposed because none of our so called 'creative' players can hold the ball for more than a couple of seconds and distribute it effectively, so Henry spends 90% of the game with players running at him while Fer etc stare into the middle distance. We are pathetically reliant on a crocked Faurlin to be on form enough to look anything like a half decent team. I know I have wasted my time on this.
Have some patience people. The first half was excellent, high tempo and Wolves had not a sniff. Second half they get a huge slice of luck and the obligatory 20 minutes or so of pressure all decent sides will have. The signs are encouraging. The goal was nobody's fault but Henry and Perch were crap again. Some others not much better but those two week after week just look inept.
You are not getting confused that their goal was scored by Henry are you Peter.... As Stan said. The back up to Henry wasn't there....the two deflections were a massive stroke of bad luck as was Chery hitting the post....We are not a lucky team at the moment....but the signs of green shoots are there. Smithes good..what is Ingrams thinking now.... Connor and Polter both look good.....Luongo very active as is Junior Sad to say we need Sandro today...and Faulin to come on as Luongo tired But hey ho we are in transition..perhaps even TF can see that now
